Broncos Reportedly Decline Shane Ray's 5th-Year Contract Option

The Denver Broncos declined the fifth-year contract option on linebacker Shane Ray's rookie deal Wednesday, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.

The option would have been worth $9.232 million for the 2019 season.

This was a surprise for the linebacker, who was confident about remaining a part of the team when he told Jhabvala on April 20:

"I'm not concerned. I love being a Bronco. John [Elway]'s got a lot of things to deal with, and whether or not he picks up my option, it doesn't say anything about what I'm going to be for this team, my role for this team. I'm just excited. I wouldn't look into too much. I think that it's going to get picked up. I think that I'm going to be here, and I'm just looking forward to this opportunity."

However, the Broncos drafted pass-rusher Bradley Chubb with the fifth overall pick.

It's been an up-and-down start to the former Missouri Tiger's career. He helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 as a rookie and followed that with a 48-tackle, eight-sack campaign in 2016.

However, three wrist surgeries limited him to eight games last season, when he recorded only 16 tackles and one sack. He missed the first six games of the season after suffering the injury during training camp. After returning to the field for eight contests with a cast on his hand, he missed the final two weeks after yet another surgery.

Denver traded up to get Ray with the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft. Although he showed potential in his first two seasons, his wrist injury may have given the team reason to be concerned about his future.

Declining his option doesn't guarantee 2018 will be his final year in Denver, but now the pass-rusher will have to use it as an opportunity to prove his value.